Ice handling container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10060665-B2
Application number	US-201715592390-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2017
Priority date	Apr 27, 2012
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

The invention is an improved ice handling container and methods for using the container. The container includes a bottom wall with upstanding sidewalls terminating in a mouth. A bail having an apex and opposing ends is pivotally attached to opposing sidewalls of the container. The bail has a handle generally at the apex and a hook extending generally outwardly from the bail generally near the apex of the bail for hanging the container with the mouth facing generally upward. One sidewall has a handle generally adjacent the bottom wall and a hook generally adjacent the handle extending generally outwardly and upwardly from the sidewall for hanging the container with the mouth facing generally downward.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ice handling container, comprising:
a bottom wall with upstanding sidewalls terminating in a mouth extending about a periphery of the upstanding sidewalls and having a taper about the periphery greater than the sidewalls, and wherein the mouth includes an apex portion extending above and outward of the upstanding sidewalls;
a first hook for hanging the container on a wall or other structure in a generally upright manner; and
a second hook extending at least partially outward and upward to allow the container to be hung in a generally upside down manner.

2. The ice handling container of claim 1 , further comprising a bail including a handle.

3. The ice handling container of claim 2 , wherein the bail further comprises:
(a) legs each having an end pivotally connected to one of an opposing pair of the upstanding sidewalls;
(b) a handle end associated with each the legs, the handle ends being oriented substantially perpendicular to a portion of the legs opposite the end of the legs connected to the upstanding sidewalls; and
(c) wherein said handle disposed between and connected to the handle ends, the handle being oriented substantially perpendicular to the handle ends.

4. The ice handling container of claim 3 , wherein the handle is configured to extend upwardly in a generally vertical plane relative to the legs of the bail.

5. The ice handling container of claim 1 , wherein said mouth comprises a lip that flares at least partially upwardly and outwardly from at least one sidewall.

6. The ice handling container of claim 5 , wherein the lip extends substantially about the periphery of the mouth.

7. The ice handling container of claim 6 , wherein a width of a portion the lip is associated with one of the upstanding sidewalls is greater than a width of a portion of the lip associated with remaining upstanding sidewalls.

8. The ice handling container of claim 1 , further comprising a gripping portion at or near the bottom wall.

9. The ice handling container of claim 1 , wherein the second hook is a separate component attached to the upstanding walls.

10. An ice handling container, comprising:
a bucket terminating in a mouth extending about a periphery of the bucket and having a taper about the periphery greater than a wall of the bucket, and wherein the mouth includes an apex portion extending above and outward of the upstanding sidewalls;
a bail pivotally connected to an opposing pair of the upstanding sidewalls, the bail having a handle positioned at an apex of the bail; and
a second handle disposed on a lower portion of the bucket.

11. The ice handling container of claim 10 , wherein the bucket comprises a bottom wall with upstanding sidewalls that terminate in the mouth.

12. The ice handling container of claim 11 , wherein the mouth comprises a lip that flares at least partially upwardly and outwardly from at least one sidewall.

13. The ice handling container of claim 10 , further comprising a hook for hanging the container in a generally upright manner.

14. The ice handling container of claim 13 , further comprising a second hook connected to a lower portion of the bucket, and wherein the second hook is configured to support the container in a generally inverted hanging position.

15. The ice handling container of claim 10 , wherein the bail further comprises:
(a) legs each having an end pivotally connected to one of an opposing pair of the upstanding sidewalls;
(b) a handle end associated with each the legs, the handle ends being oriented substantially perpendicular to a portion of the legs opposite the end of the legs connected to the upstanding sidewalls; and
(c) wherein said handle disposed between and connected to the handle ends, the handle being oriented substantially perpendicular to the handle ends.

16. An ice handling container, comprising:
a bottom wall with sidewalls extending therefrom, said sidewalls terminating a mouth extending about a periphery of the upstanding sidewalls and having a taper about the periphery greater than the sidewalls, and wherein the mouth includes an apex portion extending above and outward of a front upstanding wall;
a bail pivotally connected to an opposing pair of the upstanding sidewalls, the bail having a handle positioned at an apex of the bail; and
a first hook for hanging the container on a wall or other structure in a generally upright manner.

17. The ice handling container of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the upstanding walls comprises a taper relative to a vertical plane.

18. The ice handling container of claim 16 , further comprising a second hook that is configured to support the container in a generally inverted hanging position.

19. The ice handling container of claim 16 , wherein the mouth comprises a lip that flares at least partially upwardly and outwardly from at least one sidewall, and said lip extending about the periphery of the mouth.

20. The ice handling container of claim 16 , further comprising a second handle disposed on a lower portion of the bucket.

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Carlson Brian Philip
• Chernik Ryan A
• Balz Eric R
• Wagner Christopher C

Classifications

• B65D1/12

  Cans, casks, barrels, or drums · CPC title

• B65D85/70

  for materials not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B65D25/24

  for spacing bases of containers from supporting surfaces, e.g. legs (for pallets B65D19/40) · CPC title

• F25C5/18 Primary

  Storing ice · CPC title

• F25C5/20

  Distributing ice · CPC title